HUNTSVILLE – With immediate disaster needs like downed trees that need to be cut off of houses and thousands of people needing hot meals, it can be easy to forget a key piece to the Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) puzzle: chaplains. John Rhodes, pastor of First Baptist, Huntsville, has been involved with DR since 2001 and as a chaplain for the past six years. In addition to being a DR chaplain, Rhodes filled that role with the Fruitland Fire Department before moving to Huntsville … [Read more...]
Preparing for the Worst
JEFEFERSON CITY – The weather was calm, cool and clear, far from tornado weather. But that didn’t stop more than 200 Missouri Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers from churches across Missouri from converging on Jefferson City as if a Joplin-scale disaster had struck. In the biggest DR operation since the 2011 tornado response, the army of “yellow hats” (volunteers) converged on Jefferson City May 3 and woke up early the next morning to begin working at 6:45. “We’re better prepared for the … [Read more...]
DR crews provide response after Hazelwood tornado
HAZELWOOD – Three weeks into the spring storm season, an April 10 tornado destroyed 12 homes and damaged another 60, prompting the first DR call-out of the year. “We’ve been busy,” said Dwain Carter, Director of Disaster Relief for the Missouri Baptist Convention. Disaster Relief Volunteers from churches around the state have assessed 92 different job sites, and completed work on 84 properties. Those jobs include four temporary “blue tarp” roofs, and debris removal. The gritty, dirty work … [Read more...]
Mock disaster could bring 1,000+ to simulation
JEFFERSON CITY – A massive tornado will devastate the Jefferson City area May 3. More precisely, a massive hypothetical tornado will devastate the Jefferson City area May 3. The disaster simulation will be the largest Disaster Relief (DR) event in the state of Missouri, and will take place May 3-4 at the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) DR Head Quarters at 2552 High Point Road outside Jefferson City. “We’re inviting every unit and every volunteer from Missouri,” said Dwain Carter, MBC … [Read more...]
DR structure to make disaster response deeper
JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptists’ Disaster Relief (DR) response is going to be quicker and deeper according to a new structure for one the most highly visible ministries in the state. Instead of a single “white hat” to manage an entire state – usually the state DR director – there are now eight additional volunteers who can operate as white hats when multiple disasters strike or time and distance make it necessary. “I can’t do it all myself,” said Dwain Carter, the Missouri Baptist … [Read more...]
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